Jabari Smith poised for MIP contention after Summer League breakout

There are two things to look at when searching for a worthy Most Improved Player candidate: Does the player have enough room to take a massive jump, and does the player have the opportunity to take that leap in a different situation?

Five of the last six winners increased their scoring average from the teens to the 20s, and four of the last six played for a new team or coach.

Jabari Smith Jr., the breakout star of Summer League, fits this bill perfectly. He averaged just under 13 points last season with the Houston Rockets. Now, the Rockets have a new coach in Ime Udoka, and they added a plethora of talent that should assure they aren't one of the worst teams in the league anymore.

While many rookie seasons bring excitement to a franchise, Smith's brought more worry than elation. After being selected No. 3 overall by the Rockets, expectations were high for Smith on a team devoid of talent. He was asked to do a lot and wasn't ready for it physically or from a maturation standpoint. Smith didn't just hit a wall in his first year; he was crushed by it.

Smith's shot selection was poor during his rookie season, and he struggled to consistently score after showcasing an incredible shot-making ability at Auburn. He was also a highly touted prospect because of his shooting touch at 6-foot-10.

But that's not how things panned out in Year 1. He shot 30.7% from three and 40.8% from the field on 11 attempts per game, which ranked 42nd and 44th among rookies, respectively.

Smith's rookie season served as a wake-up call that the college game is different than the next level, and a bad situation can make a good player look, well, bad.

However, as the Rockets' 22-win season drudged along, Smith improved. His points, rebounds, assists, and field-goal attempts all increased after the All-Star break. In the final two months of the regular season, Smith shot 35% and 40% from three, respectively.

He was awarded an NBA All-Rookie second-team selection, partly because of his swift improvement as the season went on and partly because he was a household name as a top-five pick.

Smith repeatedly pointed to confidence as to why he struggled early on and how he turned it around in the latter months of his first season.

Now, Smith is poised for a breakout sophomore campaign. The Auburn product put the league on notice in his two games at the Vegas Summer League over the weekend.

In Friday's opener, Smith rained in 33 points, including a game-winner

Then, on Sunday, he topped that with 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Smith is probably too good to be playing in Summer League, but it's another chance for him to rocket his confidence and remind all of us not to count him out just yet.

Smith showed an array of scoring tricks in his bag, including side-step threes, tough finishes at the rim, creating space with his footwork, one-dribble jumpers, and finding his teammates. He has all the tools in the toolkit to be an elite player, and Summer League was his chance to continue to develop.

As Smith said, it's an opportunity to "get better" and "get reps." Those live reps came to an end, though, when it was reported Monday that he won't play in any more games.

Aside from the reps and opportunity, Smith's situation in Houston is upgraded.

The Rockets shouldn't have the second-worst record in the league again. Joining young studs Smith and Jalen Green is a combination of more youth and proven veterans. The Rockets drafted Amen Thompson fifth overall and Cam Whitmore 20th overall. They also signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to expensive multi-year deals.

To cap off a busy offseason, the Rockets hired Udoka, a well-respected coach who brought the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022. Smith won't be asked to do too much in a new system with other talented players. Less responsibility and enhanced confidence will bode well for the second-year forward out of Auburn.

It's not just fans reacting to Smith's two remarkable Summer League performances - the market is, too. Prior to Summer League, Smith was +5000 to win the Most Improved Player award.

Smith is now +3300 and has the 20th-best odds to do so. He's still severely undervalued as a guy ready to take a huge leap. If Summer League showed anything, it's that Smith's game has drastically improved, and that his time is coming.